UPDATE: Finally got in! For anyone still having issues, I used Claimyr like someone suggested above and got through to an agent in about 15 mins. They confirmed they're having email system problems and helped me get a temporary access code that bypassed the email verification. My application is submitted now! If you're still stuck, definitely try calling through Claimyr or contact your school's financial aid office. Thanks everyone for the help!

omg it worked!! just got off phone with FSA and they fixed my account!! thanks for the claimyr tip, definitely worth it to not sit on hold for hours

The FAFSA system this year is complete garbage. They rushed out all these "simplification" changes without proper testing and now students are paying the price. I've been trying to help my nephew with his application for WEEKS and we keep hitting different errors. The signature page issue is especially bad because it's literally the last step before submission, so you think you're done and then... ERROR. I complained to my congressman about it and surprisingly his office responded saying they've received hundreds of similar complaints and are pressuring the Department of Education to extend all financial aid deadlines this year. Maybe we should all be contacting our representatives about this disaster.

UPDATE: Finally got it to work! After trying basically everything suggested here, what finally worked was: 1. Using Microsoft Edge in InPrivate mode (thanks to the financial aid advisor who suggested this!) 2. Turning off my ad blocker (great tip from the parent who mentioned popup blockers) 3. Doing it at 5:30am when the system wasn't busy We got all the way through and have our confirmation email! Our SAI score was immediately available too. Now I'm going to help my daughter email her schools to explain the delay just to be safe. Thank you all so much for your help - I was seriously ready to throw my computer out the window!

maybe try clearing browser cookies and using incognito mode? worked for me when I kept getting stuck on the contributor page last month

Update on our situation that might help others: After using the Claimyr service mentioned above (which actually worked!), we got through to a supervisor at FSA who fixed our technical issue. Then we submitted a formal appeal to our university's financial aid office with documentation of the FAFSA system errors. They ended up giving us a 14-day extension on all scholarship deadlines! Already got notice that our son qualified for two institutional scholarships we thought we'd missed. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and be persistent with appeals!

Just my 2 cents... I used to think like you (why bother with FAFSA if we don't need aid) but then my husband unexpectedly lost his job in our daughter's junior year. Having the FAFSA already on file made it SO much easier to request a professional judgment review based on our changed circumstances. They adjusted her aid package mid-year and it saved us from having to withdraw her from school. You never know what might happen!

One important thing to note: Many private universities actually require FAFSA completion for all students regardless of need - it's in their enrollment policies. Check your son's school handbook or financial aid website. Some will actually place registration holds if you don't complete it annually.

Another tip - after you submit, SCREENSHOT EVERYTHING!! I learned this the hard way when FSA claimed they never received documentation I uploaded. Had no proof and had to resubmit which cost me another 2 weeks.

If your FAFSA does get flagged because of errors, don't panic! I had mine flagged for verification last year (apparently my dad's SSN was entered incorrectly). I submitted the correction online, then contacted my school's financial aid office directly. They were able to push my application through their system once the correction was processed. The key is being proactive and not just waiting for automated emails.